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Contract Details: Butler, Post, Mitchell, Craig, Two-Ways

February 10th, 2025 at 11:38am CST by Luke Adams

Jimmy Butler‘s new two-year contract extension with the Warriors became official last Thursday as part of the trade that sent him from Miami to Golden State, per RealGM’s transaction log. That deal, which replaces Butler’s player option for 2025/26, projects to be worth $54,126,450 next season and $56,832,773 in 2026/27.

Those figures hinge on a presumed 10% salary cap increase for the ’25/26 season. Butler’s deal will start at 35% of the cap, with a 5% raise for the second year. Based on the maximum possible cap increase, which is anticipated, that would work out to a two-year total of $110,959,223 for the newest Warrior.

Meanwhile, Hoops Rumors has learned that Quinten Post‘s new standard two-year contract is a minimum-salary contract that includes a team option for 2025/26. The Warriors will have the ability to either exercise that $1.96MM for next season or turn it down in the hopes of signing the big man to a longer-term contract as a restricted free agent.

Here are a few more updates on recently signed contracts from around the NBA:

Ajay Mitchell‘s new two-year, $6MM contract with the Thunder includes a guaranteed $3MM for the rest of this season, which comes out of Oklahoma City’s room exception. It also features a $3MM team option for 2025/26, which means – like Golden State with Post – Oklahoma City could decline the option in order to sign Mitchell to a longer-term deal as a restricted free agent this summer.
Torrey Craig‘s new contract with the Celtics is a one-year, minimum-salary deal, Hoops Rumors has learned, so the veteran wing will be back on the unrestricted free agent market during the coming offseason.
While Branden Carlson (Thunder), Orlando Robinson (Raptors), and Jordan Goodwin (Lakers) signed two-way contracts that will expire at season’s end, Ethan Thompson‘s new two-way deal with the Magic covers two years, so Orlando will have the option of keeping him on that contract through the 2025/26 season, Hoops Rumors has learned.

NBA Teams With Open Roster Spots

February 10th, 2025 at 7:37am CST by Luke Adams

A number of free agent signings have been finalized in the days since last Thursday’s trade deadline, but there are still many teams around the NBA with one or more open spots on their respective rosters.

For clubs with just a single standard or two-way opening, there’s not necessarily any urgency to fill those spots, especially ahead of the All-Star break. But the clock is ticking for teams who have two or more openings on their standard rosters to make a move, since clubs are only permitted to carry fewer than 14 players on standard contracts for up to two weeks at a time.

With the help of our roster count tracker, here’s where things stand for all 30 teams around the NBA as of Monday morning. As a reminder, teams are typically permitted to carry up to 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals.

(Note: Teams marked with an asterisk have a player on a 10-day contract.)

Teams with multiple open roster spots

Cleveland Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors
Philadelphia 76ers *
Sacramento Kings *

The Cavaliers dipped to 13 players on standard contracts as a result of Thursday’s De’Andre Hunter trade, so their situation is fairly straightforward — they’ll have to re-add a 14th man by February 20.

The Warriors‘ four-for-one Jimmy Butler trade dropped them to just 11 players. They quickly got back to 12 by promoting Quinten Post from his two-way contract to a standard roster spot and now have three openings on their standard roster, along with one open two-way slot.

Golden State doesn’t have to fill all those openings, but the team does have to get back to at least 14 players on standard contracts by Feb. 20. Assuming Post got a prorated rookie minimum salary on his new deal, the Warriors – by my count – have $1,372,306 in breathing room below their first-apron hard cap.

If the Warriors were to sign a pair of veterans to rest-of-season minimum deals on Feb. 20, they would each count for $635,853 against the cap, leaving the team with $100,600 in breathing room below the hard cap. It’s possible Golden State will go that route. It’s also possible the club will sign a couple players to 10-day contracts, then go another 14 days in March with just 12 players under contract in order to create a bit of extra wiggle room below that hard cap. That would allow the Warriors to sign a 15th man a little earlier in the second half.

The Sixers briefly dropped to 12 players on standard contracts at the trade deadline, but they’re back to 14 now, having promoted Justin Edwards to a standard contract and given Chuma Okeke a 10-day deal. They’re expected to sign David Roddy to a 10-day contract too, which will give them a full standard roster.

For now then, no roster moves are necessary in Philadelphia, but the team does have a two-way slot open and could drop back to 13 players on standard deals after Okeke’s and Roddy’s 10-day contracts expire, which would necessitate a least one addition within 14 days.

The Kings are currently carrying 12 players on full-season standard contracts, with Daishen Nix on a 10-day deal. They’ll have to get back to 14 players by Feb. 20.

Teams with one open roster spot

Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets *
Dallas Mavericks
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz

The Hawks, Celtics, Nets, Mavericks, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Raptors, and Jazz are all carrying 14 players on full-season standard contracts and three on two-way deals, with no reported signings pending. They’re each free to carry that open roster spot for as long as they want to, though some figure to fill it sooner rather than later.

Two teams that can’t fill their openings sooner rather than later are Dallas and New York. The Knicks are just $540,126 below their second-apron hard cap, while the Mavericks have a mere $171,120 to operate below their first-apron hard cap. Based on my math, New York would be able to sign a veteran free agent as a 15th man as of February 28 (that date moved up a day as a result of the Knicks trimming $4,825 from their cap in the Delon Wright/Jericho Sims swap), while Dallas will have to wait until March 31.

The Hornets are in this group because they have a two-way slot open, but their standard roster is full for now. In fact, it’s more than full — as a result of having been granted a hardship exception, they’re temporarily carrying 16 players instead of the usual maximum of 15. Elfrid Payton, on a 10-day deal, is the 16th man.

The Pacers and Clippers, meanwhile, each technically have an open roster spot for now, but they reportedly have deals in place with prospective 15th men. Indiana will sign center Alex Len once he clears waivers, while L.A. will add three-time All-Star Ben Simmons. Both players are on track to clear waivers on Monday.

Teams with no open roster spots

Chicago Bulls
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs *
Washington Wizards *

The Bulls, Nuggets, Pistons, Rockets, Lakers, Grizzlies, Heat, Thunder, Magic, Suns, and Trail Blazers are all carrying 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals. If they want to make a free agent addition during the season’s final two months, they’ll have to cut a player to do so.

That won’t necessarily be the case for the Spurs and Wizards though. Both clubs have just 14 players on full-season standard contracts, with one on a 10-day deal — Bismack Biyombo for San Antonio and Jaylen Nowell for Washington. Once those contracts expire, the Spurs and Wizards could open up a roster spot if they opt not to retain Biyombo and Nowell, respectively.

Southeast Notes: Williams, Wizards Moves, Magic, Gueye

February 9th, 2025 at 6:52pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Hornets are in the awkward position of having Mark Williams back on their roster after their trade with the Lakers was rescinded. Charlotte released a statement (Twitter link) welcoming Williams back to the team. The franchise made it clear that the third-year big man will be back in the starting lineup.

“After the other team aggressively pursued Mark, we made the difficult decision to move him,” the statement read in part. “We have always held great respect for Mark’s talent, work ethic and character. We are thrilled to see him rejoin the roster as a dynamic presence at the starting center position.”

We have more from the Southeast Division:

The Wizards were very busy before the trade deadline, making four deals, highlighted by the Kyle Kuzma swap with Milwaukee. The Washington Post’s Varun Shankar praised the front office’s approach, believing that the moves achieved the Wizards’ goals of landing young players with upside, adding draft picks, creating long-term financial flexibility and acquiring high-character veterans.
The Magic own 20 draft picks over the next seven years and didn’t feel the need to give away assets at the trade deadline, president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman told Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. Weltman believes Orlando will naturally have a stronger second half with the return of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. “We didn’t jump [Thursday] because we felt that the right deals didn’t present themselves [and] that the timing of the trade deadline coincided with us being in a little bit of a slump generated a little bit of a squeeze effect where the league looks to squeeze long-term assets for short-term solutions,” Weltman said. “And there are some teams that are in positions where they need[ed] to make moves like that, and we don’t count ourselves as one of those teams. We count ourselves as a growing team and we’re going to continue to grow. I remain very excited about where this team is headed.”
Hawks big man Mouhamed Gueye delivered his best performance of the season on Friday with 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks against Milwaukee. The 2023 second-round pick told Spencer Davies of RG.com in an extensive interview he’s ready for an expanded role. “Just keep doing what I’m doing, be aggressive on defense and on offense,” Gueye said. “Obviously, I’m gonna knock down shots. It’s gonna come. But just keep working and don’t worry about anything else. It’s the same mindset. Just be there, compete, play hard. Make or miss a shot, next play. Really just competing.”

Magic Sign Ethan Thompson To Two-Way Contract

February 7th, 2025 at 8:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Osceola Magic guard Ethan Thompson has been promoted from the G League to the NBA, having signed a two-way contract with Orlando, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link).

Thompson, who went undrafted out of Oregon State in 2021, has played primarily in the G League since then, beginning his professional career with the Windy City Bulls and also spending time with the Mexico City Capitanes before a stint last year with Osos de Manati in Puerto Rico.

Ahead of the 2024/25 season, Thompson signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Magic and spent the preseason with the club before being cut and reporting to Osceola, the Magic’s NBAGL affiliate.

In 30 total appearances in the Tip-Off Tournament and G League regular season, Thompson has averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 32.9 minutes, knocking down an impressive 38.2% of 8.2 three-point attempts per game.

Orlando has left its third two-way slot open for the entire season, finally filling it with this move, so no corresponding roster move is required.

Thompson, who will join two-way players Trevelin Queen and Mac McClung, will be eligible to appear in up to 19 NBA regular season games with the Magic for the rest of the season.

Begley’s Latest: Magic, White, Vucevic, Smart, Knicks

February 6th, 2025 at 8:19am CST by Luke Adams

The Magic are among the teams that were talking to the Bulls about guard Coby White earlier this week, sources familiar with the situation tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv. It’s unclear if the two sides remain engaged in conversations.

White, who turns 25 later this month, has developed into a reliable backcourt scorer over the last couple seasons and is averaging 18.5 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game for Chicago in 2024/25. He’s also a solid three-point shooter, having made at least 37.2% of his attempts from beyond the arc in each of the past four seasons. That would appeal to an Orlando team that ranks last in the NBA in three-point makes and three-point percentage.

As K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network tweets, the Bulls have a crowded backcourt and may be looking to trade one or more of their guards either before Thursday’s deadline or during the offseason. None of them are on long-term deals, but White, Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry, and newly extended Lonzo Ball are all under contract for next season, while Jevon Carter will likely pick up his player option and Josh Giddey will be controllable as a restricted free agent.

Here’s more from Begley ahead of today’s deadline:

As of Wednesday, the Bulls maintained a high asking price for Nikola Vucevic. Begley reports that Chicago wants a first-round pick that isn’t too heavily protected and wouldn’t turn into second-rounders if it doesn’t convey.
Several teams have spoken to the Grizzlies about possible Marcus Smart trades, according to Begley, who notes that moving off of Smart’s $21.6MM guaranteed salary for 2025/26 would put Memphis in better position to re-sign restricted free agent Santi Aldama and potentially to extend star big man Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Knicks still hadn’t engaged in substantial Mitchell Robinson trade talks as of Wednesday night, Begley writes. If they don’t make any additional details beyond their Jericho Sims/Delon Wright swap, the Knicks would remain on track to add a 15th man under the hard cap as of March 1. In that scenario, Begley expects G League standouts T.J. Warren and Chuma Okeke to receive consideration.

Southeast Notes: Herro, Castleton, Caporn

February 1st, 2025 at 11:32am CST by Tristan Tucker

Heat guard Tyler Herro was named an All-Star for the first time in his career on Thursday night. He beat out the likes of Atlanta’s Trae Young, Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey for a spot as one of the East’s guards, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes.

“I’m truly proud of Tyler because there’s been a lot of media that have thrown that man’s name in the mud,” teammate Bam Adebayo said. “Y’all have thrown his name in trade rumors, y’all have said he’s not good enough, he can’t do this and he can’t do that, all the way down to somebody’s wingspan. So just looking at it from that standpoint and understanding how great Tyler can be, it’s a testament to him and how he’s really worked on his body, how he’s really prepared himself for moments like this.”

Herro has been one of the most durable Heat players this season and he’s averaging career highs in points (24.1), rebounds (5.6), and assists (5.4) per game, as well as field goal percentage (47.4%), three-point percentage (40.0%) and three-point attempts per game (9.7). Herro will also be taking part in the NBA’s three-point contest on All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 15.

“I feel like throughout the years, people thought it would come faster, sooner than this,” Herro said. “But I think the time that we put in every year, every summer, it finally paid off and it was a lot of different trials and tribulations, back and forths with [head coach Erik Spoelstra], what I need to work on every single year. But I always just came in and tried to get better every single day.”

We have more from the Southeast Division:

While the trade deadline and Jimmy Butler saga are dominating headlines in the short term, Ira Winderman of South Florida’s Sun Sentinel writes the Heat have a decision to make later this year on Herro, who will become eligible for an extension as of Oct. 1. While that’s still a way out, it will be interesting to see if that extension is put on the table immediately and whether Miami will be willing to offer the full three-year, $150MM deal Herro will be eligible for.
Former Grizzlies two-way center Colin Castleton landed with the Magic‘s G League affiliate in Osceola, The Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Beede observes (subscriber link). Castleton appeared in 10 games with the Grizzlies this year, averaging 1.4 points per game in very limited playing time. The Florida product is hoping to get back into the NBA through his time with Osceola. In 17 G League games, he’s averaging 15.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 blocks per night.
Basketball Australia’s general manager Jason Smith has flown to the United States to meet with both Hawks coach Quin Snyder and Wizards assistant Adam Caporn, NBA insider Jake Fischer reports. Both are major candidates in Australia’s search for a new head coach. We wrote about the Boomers’ interest in Snyder last week. Caporn was born in Australia, playing professionally with Wollongong and Perth. After retiring from his playing days, he has spent time as an assistant with Saint Mary’s, the Nets (and as head coach of their G League affiliate), and now the Wizards. He has also served as assistant for Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence.

NBA Names Four Replacements For Rising Stars Event

January 31st, 2025 at 4:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Three second-year players and one rookie have been named replacements for the Rising Stars event at All-Star weekend in San Francisco, according to the NBA. The league issued a press release announcing the following changes:

Magic guard Anthony Black is replacing Mavericks center Dereck Lively.
Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara is replacing Hornets forward Brandon Miller.
Pistons swingman Ausar Thompson is replacing Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama.
Suns wing Ryan Dunn is replacing Sixers guard Jared McCain.

We noted when the Rising Stars participants were officially revealed on Tuesday that a few replacements would be necessary. Lively is sidelined for an extended period due to a stress fracture in his ankle, while Miller and McCain underwent season-ending procedures on their right wrist and left knee, respectively.

Wembanyama is healthy, but was selected as an All-Star reserve for the Western Conference. Players who are named All-Stars don’t take part in the Rising Stars event.

Black, Camara, Thompson, and Dunn will be included in the 21-player pool of NBA rookies and sophomores who will be drafted into three teams of seven players apiece on February 4. Those three teams, along with a fourth club made up of seven G League standouts, will compete a mini-tournament on Friday, February 14 as part of All-Star weekend’s opening night.

The squad that wins the Rising Stars event will advance to All-Star Sunday and take on one of three teams made up of NBA All-Stars in the semifinals of the new-look All-Star Game.

Southeast Notes: Hornets, Okogie, Harris, Wizards, Young

January 31st, 2025 at 3:58pm CST by Tristan Tucker

The Hornets are seeking “creative” answers to their rotation with star guard LaMelo Ball out with an ankle injury, according to The Charlotte Observer’s Alex Zietlow.

“It’s hard to make up Melo’s production,” head coach Charles Lee said. “With all that he does, and he does it in such a unique way, and he’s able to sustain it for an entire game, and create so much open space and opportunities for all our guys.”

Charlotte is currently ravaged by injuries, with Ball, Mark Williams, Josh Green and Brandon Miller due to various injuries, including a season-ending wrist issue for Miller. The shorthanded Hornets had a poor offensive showing on Wednesday against the Nets, with Taj Gibson, Vasilije Micic and recently acquired Josh Okogie each inserted into the starting lineup while two-way players Moussa Diabate, KJ Simpson and Isaiah Wong saw extended workloads.

The goal for Charlotte now is to keep its injured players engaged with the team, per Zietlow, and to continue developing some of their younger players.

We have more from the Southeast Division:

The Hornets could theoretically look to flip Okogie at the trade deadline after acquiring him for Nick Richards, but he’s looked like a solid fit in Charlotte in his first six games. He discussed his first impressions of Charlotte with Grant Afseth of Sportskeeda. “This whole team has been good at bringing everybody in,” Okogie said. “From the outside looking in, I didn’t really know how close they were with each other, but this team jokes, laughs, and kind of does everything together so far since I’ve been here. They’ve all embraced me, and that’s made me feel comfortable already.” In his first six appearances with the Hornets, Okogie is averaging 10.3 points per game and shooting 42.9% from three.
After missing 13 games with a hamstring strain, Gary Harris made his return for the Magic‘s Wednesday game against Portland, as first reported by the Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Beede (via Twitter). Harris played 13 minutes and scored three points.
Don’t be surprised if the Wizards go through the trade deadline with one or both of Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon still on the roster, The Washington Post’s Varun Shankar writes. The team could find more value in their leadership than in potential second round picks if offers aren’t to their liking — that was the case last season with Tyus Jones.
The team continues to mentor two-way center Tristan Vukcevic, Shankar writes in the same article. Coach Brian Keefe said a team could run its offense through Vukcevic, but the Wizards want to see him become more of a defensive anchor.
Hawks guard Trae Young ultimately wasn’t named an All-Star in the East despite averages of 22.5 points and 11.4 assists per game. He responded on Twitter on Thursday night. “[And] it’s no longer getting ‘snubbed’ it’s getting ‘Traed’ at this point,” Young wrote. “Sorry to my fans.. it’ll change eventually! All right, talk soon!“

Injury Notes: V. Williams, Suggs, Harris, Ball, Curry

January 29th, 2025 at 12:45pm CST by Luke Adams

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters a few weeks ago that he was hoping to have injured swingman Vince Williams back on the court at some point in January. However, that won’t happen, as Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes.

Williams is still week-to-week as he continues to recover from a grade 3 ankle sprain, a team spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

“Based on prior timeline, the hope was for him to play by the end of this month,” the spokesperson said, “but unfortunately sounds like Vince’s return from the significant sprain will take a bit longer.”

Williams, 24, had a breakout season in 2023/24 for the Grizzlies, averaging 10.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game with a .446/.378/.800 shooting line in 52 appearances (33 starts). Health issues have limited him to just three outings so far in ’24/25.

Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:

After missing 10 games due to a low back strain, Magic guard Jalen Suggs suffered a left quad contusion on Saturday in his first game back and had to sit out Monday’s contest in Miami. Suggs wasn’t able to practice on Wednesday, but it sounds like the injury shouldn’t cost him much time — he’s listed as questionable for Thursday’s game in Portland, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter links). Orlando is 4-9 this season when Suggs doesn’t play.
While Suggs’ status for Thursday is up in the air, Magic wing Gary Harris appears to be trending toward a return after missing the past 13 games with a left hamstring strain. Harris took contact in Wednesday’s practice and is listed as probable for Thursday, Beede notes.
After exiting Monday’s loss to the Lakers in the second quarter due to a left ankle injury, Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been ruled out for Wednesday’s matchup with Brooklyn, per the team (Twitter links). The Hornets announced on Tuesday that Ball is still having the ankle evaluated and that updates will be provided as appropriate.
The Warriors continue to carefully monitor Stephen Curry‘s workload, holding him out of Tuesday’s win over Utah due to bilateral knee injury management, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. It was the first end of a back-to-back set and the first game in a stretch of three games in four days, as head coach Steve Kerr pointed out. “We take it day-to-day, week-to-week, and it made sense to give him the night off and try to get him right for the rest of the week,” Kerr said.

And-Ones: R. Miller, NBC, I. Thomas, Trade Deadline

January 29th, 2025 at 11:35am CST by Luke Adams

Longtime TNT Sports analyst Reggie Miller has agreed to join NBC as one of the company’s lead NBA color commentators for the 2025/26 season, according to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, who reports that Miller is expected to work alongside play-by-play men Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle on NBC broadcasts.

When the NBA’s new media rights deals take effect later this year, NBC will return as one of the league’s broadcasting partners while TNT will no longer have the right to broadcast games, so it makes sense that Miller – who been part of a broadcasting team with Kevin Harlan for many years – is making the leap.

As Glasspiegel outlines, the plan is for Miller and Jamal Crawford, who has also reached a deal with NBC, to rotate as the network’s lead game analysts. The two former NBA shooting guards will each get the opportunity to work with both Tirico and Eagle.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

When Isaiah Thomas joined the Salt Lake City Stars last March, he scored 30 or more points in each of his first four G League games, earning an NBA call-up with Phoenix. After rejoining the Jazz’s G League affiliate this week, the veteran guard got off to another hot start, racking up 40 points and eight assists on Tuesday in a loss to the Valley Suns, per an Associated Press report. Thomas continues to seek another NBA opportunity.
Kevin Pelton of ESPN (Insider link) weighs in on the best possible fits for 10 rumored trade candidates, including Jordan Clarkson (Lakers and Magic), Chris Boucher (Clippers), and Jonas Valanciunas (Lakers and Knicks). Meanwhile, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic shares some of the trade ideas he’d like to see come to fruition, such as Lonzo Ball to Detroit, a Patrick Williams/Jusuf Nurkic swap, and a three-team deal that gets both the Cavaliers and Warriors out of tax territory.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) has shared his massive pre-deadline trade guide, breaking down the NBA’s 30 teams into seven tiers, including “the true dealmakers,” “megadeal facilitators,” and “bottom-line watchers,” among others. Marks’ guide, which features analysis, trade ideas, draft assets, and cap details for every team, comes highly recommended if you’re an ESPN subscriber.